(1874-05-18) Wine and Ships
Wine and Ships.
Summary: Mercy and Thomas stroll about the festival.
Date: May 18th 2018
Related: Arcadian Festival
NPCs: NPCs (If there are any NPCs that don't have icons (they are not special/reoccurring enough to warrant such attention), list them here. Otherwise, you can say 'None'.)
Players:
Mercy  Thomas  

New Kashmir, Arcadia
Room description
Mai 18th morning

New Kashmir, Arcadia usualy a bustling port town with shops, a massive market, and enough brothels that could rival four corners. Though, not much crime on the street, marines in uniform and armor keeping the peace, pimps pretty much done away with in favour of the brothel madame, and anything and everything for sale in the market that's not people. On a normal day…

This, however, is not a normal day, Big busted whores stand outside theor brothels trying to entice men to come inside, some wearing symbols of the mythical siren. The market is awash with an aquatic theme, freash foods, both raw and cooked tickle the nose, and the sounds of arcadian fast paced folk music are heard as the clinking of glasses as people try new ales and wines. Children roam to partect in the cakes and other games, and you could swear there is a gong going off when someone who looks burly enough swings a mallet.

Mercy is currently listening to a quartet of folk music players on a small stage, the music is uplifting and deffinately doesnt sound like your normal Aequoran Music, much more 'down to earth'.

Several days ago, Thomas was in Galenthia, planning and doing what needs to be done to ensure the defence of his home Duchy. Now, he's half a world away, in Arcadia. He spent a pretty penny to take an airship from Griffon Point to Four Corners, and then hired a ship to come here. A night's sleep in the hold has done him good, and now he strides through the streets wearing a loose off-white doublet and grey hose. He's got a light arming sword and roundel dagger strapped to him along a good knight's belt, and a bycocket hat in cobalt blue with grey stripes and a matching blue feather, the badge in the front of his house, the silver sun in splendour. He's accompanied by Serjeant Verus, his everpresent shadow, and another of his soldiers. Both are in simple clothes as him.

It is clear that the Viscount of Repton March is interested in the sights and sounds. He's been to Four Corners and he's been to Lyionesse, but Arcadia is a mystery to him. Despite the recent travel, he seems in good spirits, interested more in the food and drink than the ladies - he politely rebuffs one of them with a raised hand and a laugh.

Mercy taps her foot to the rythem of the music and claps when their song is done, of course, they start another song, though mercy turns her head to spot on Viscount Chandus. She walks over to the man, who looks to be enjoying himself here, which gives her no small amount of pleasure at seeing. "Viscount Chandus! It's so good to see you here!" She says with a very mirthful smile, offering him her hand, palm down. "I do hope you find the festivities to your liking?"

Despite the head wound which humbled him a month or more back, the Viscount has largely kept his perceptiveness. In any case, a six foot tall woman who everyone makes way for in Arcadia is not hard to spot. He dips his head respectfully and, as a gentleman, politely takes her hand and gives it a very brief peck. The two soldiers behind him bow fully. "Countess d'Juliano, the architect of the festival, well met. I am indeed, though truth be told I have just begun to take it in. But we thank you for hospitality."

Mercy smiles. "I'm glad to hear it, come, let me show you around, I have time before the Marksman contest." She says as she turns to step next to him and propperly slip her arm into his. "My Knights are enjoying it as one, one of them, who has my Favpour for the Melee, actualy has a hammer game, another is holding a ale drinking contest, I was hopeing the legendary Wolf of deUlfford would show up." She says with a smile passing stalls that sell wooden and cloth dolls, goods, weapons, though she does stop at someone selling wine and sugar bread. "Ah, you have to try this, it's called a Beignet (Bin-yay), It goes wonderfully with watermelon wine." She of course has some ordered, even for her guards and thomas' guards.

Thomas hesitates for a fraction of a moment before taking Mercy's arm, but, nodding to her with a smile, does so. "I'm not sure if Lord Aspendon will be present. Things are moving fast on the Eastern Marches and he has been tasked with some important work by His Grace Gauvain." Of that, Chandus says no more. His eyebrows raise at the beignets. "That sounds delightful. I'm told that your shellfish is excellent, too, here."

Mercy nods. "It is, actualy, after the contest, I'll be having a dinner at the palace, you are, of ourse, invited, shrimp crap and lobster will be on the menu, just, careful, we like our food much more spicey than the normal aequoran fare." She says as she continues her walk, stopping to point at a drinking contest, two sailors absolutely drainning glasses of a thick ale. "It's good to watch people have fun, and let them have fun, soon it will be raiding season, and the armada will be at full capacity." She says with a smile as one sailor falls over and the other is declaired the winner.

The beignet that Mercy procurs for all present is eaten quickly but neatly, and while he eats, the Viscount does not speak. He simply nods his head while Mercy talks. As soon as he's finished, though, he asks, "Raiding season? Who do you raid? The war is over, of course. Ryalta is an ally of both Aequor and Galenthia, and our former enemies are pacified. The Ice Clans?"

Mercy chuckles. "We raid no one Thomas, but yes, the Ice clans, and thease new people on the waves, I havent seen them myself, but stories from Ryalta as well as a small encounter from our own forces has me concerned. When captains advise not to board a ship…. kinda has me on edge." She says with a frown. "But those ships can be sunk, so just need to make sure all hands are on the guns." She adds, and then the sound of a gong is heard, causing her to look over at the strength game, where a hulking seven foot man is holding a huge wooden mallet. Mercy of course goes over to said man, who gives a bow to his countess, before adressing Thomas. "Hey man, you wanna take this hammer and try and hit the gong? A prize if you win. OH Name's Kory, I'm a Knight of Arcadia." Of course for the man;s size, he is very soft spoken, hefting the hammer in one hand and offering it to thomas. "First try is on the house bruv." Mercy isn't any help as she smiles. "You should try Thomas."

Thomas looks curiously at Mercy while she explains the new people on the waves. Evidently, this is not something he was tracking. "I see. New people." He raises his hand to the seven foot man with a, 'I'm busy' look on his face. "Have you thought about the Great Salt? We've some troubling reports from there. If the alliance between Aequor and Galenthia is to grow in strength, as it appears to be doing against the savages, perhaps we could come to some kind of accomodation in the south."

Mercy nods. "I'll have to see what forces are where Thomas, I already have a battalian of troops in Hellsmouth with my cousin, and I'm pretty sure Trade with Duval will open up shortly." She says as she politely waves Kory off as they move along, the tall Knight trying the next set of people as they walk towards the docks, of course, not so many people around as she speaks softly. "I wanted to talk to you about Kentaire… I don;t trust them, not one bit… they cannot recover from the war, I have a feeling that they will try and attack Galenthia if given a second chance."

"Trade with Duval will be closed shortly if Partharia gets its way. They have massed multiple fleets in their ports and it appears that they have decided to take advantage of our weakness. This is not the first time. They did this during the Second Succession War and were bloodied by my liege. But this is years later now, and wars later." Thomas says, nodding at his Serjeant at Arms. "Verus, please get us a flagon of wine from the nearest tavern." He doesn't bother to flip money in his hands - the Serjeant has some on himself.

Turning back to Mercy, Chandus's watery blue eyes regard the Countess of Aradia. "Kentaire. Yes. Well, I'm afraid that I overplayed the last hand, to use an analogy."

"But what makes you think that they'll attack Galenthia? Discredit us politically, perhaps. But attack us?" He queries.

Mercy blinks. "Because, it's all they know. They learned it from the vir Sidus, an insult amounts to an attac, if you remember what the legions did to marinor a long time ago?" She says softly. "But I have a plan, that helps to deal with our bandit problem, as well as our kentaire problem. The only problem I have is that I need a galenthian to make sure their side gives us a reason to traverse the salt. See, I want to plant bandits on kentaire soil, and have them cause enough problems to the point where the Principality can't recover, keep them busy while we work on other problems." She says with a smile.

"Marinor did not insult the Empire, my lady. They attacked their border forts and killed legionairies in an attempt to become the heirs to the Imperial legacy in the West. They paid for it. And both Aequor and Galenthia benefitted. We all gained territory." Thomas's eyes widen at Mercy's plan. "Their armies are still intact, though they've suffered losses. As we were not in a position to demand that they end conscription or their civil legions without more war, they still have both of those. They are not like us. They will ruthlessly crush bandits and then it will be war once more. My lady… we cannot afford to play brinksmanship on this matter. My own feelings aside, Kentaire can be a boon to us. They will be supplying soldiers to this Legion of the West, and their soldiers are good."

Mercy gives a sigh. "I know.. just.. I hate them so much.. it's hard to keep my feelings and 'the good for all' seperate when they are responcible for half my family dying… They killed my Husband." She says with a frown.

"And a good friend of mine, along with his family. I'd hoped that he'd be one of those helping Kentaire in the way forward." Thomas says, his voice lowering. Verus returns with the flagon and a few cups, pouring one out for Mercy and then Chandus. The latter nods in thanks. When he continues to talk, Verus pours some more out for the guards in both camps. "My lady, were there a way and if we were truly at peace, perhaps we could have pressed the Principality harder. But it would be irresponsible of us. We have so many enemies, that spreading ourselves thin and chopping off a new arm would make us even easier meat. Kentaire will lose soldiers in these new days."

Mercy frowns and nods. "You are right… and thanks for the wine." She says as she takes a drink, more of a gulp really. "So many problems, Savages on land, savages on sea, desert people to the south, heathens to the north, and people hardly trust each other. Somthing has to give or I fear our way of life might not be attainable for much longer. I myself can handle an 'ecconomic failure'. I'm a sailor and goods are goods and valuable, so I'll have work, but other nobles don;t have the luxury of knowing anything else than just being a noble."

"Our way of life will endure, for now. It is built with many layers and many armies, so that if one piece breaks, the whole does not fold. This is why the Empire decreed feudal government in the West a thousand years ago." Thomas seeks to maneouvre the conversation back to concrete problems. "I'm worried less about the desert people and more about their strong naval presence. They are fine warriors and excellent raiders. Which is why I talked to you about this. Working with Navali, Aequor's navy and the d'Armaz, could your kingdom handle these new seaferers and the Ice Clans?"

Mercy ponders that for abit. "The d'Armaz mostly patrol their river, not much of a sea pressence, but I can try and talk to Myrana d'Armaz about it, she is much more agreeable than her father. Perhaps I'll hold a sea court and see if the allies naval powers can come to an agreement. You and your wife, the Princess, should of course attend, Maybe I should invite a speaker for the red sails as well, we are allies, even if My Navy is better." She says with a wink to Thomas. "But We will have to see, I need to get a gauge on the logistics of everything, and see if I can pull the red mane from her kingdom long enough to get a bead on what she wishes to contribute."

Thomas doesn't react to the dig on the Sokars other than a slight smirk. "This is what we have the Senate of the West for, truthfully. It might be easier and better to conduct this through that channel. But… both Aequor and Galenthia did exchanges with Ryalta during the war, on land and at sea. When we marched to Mathis, we had Ryaltan marines in Oracla at our back. There are channels to the Red Queen."

Mercy shakes her head. "The senate, a good idea, but I don;t need land lubbers telling sailors and captains what we can and can't afford, that's why the King allows me the bit of freedom with the sea court, it's kept our coast safe, and us appraised of our allies."

Thomas purses his lips. "I see. I had hoped to tie in our land and naval concerns so that there was a unified direction. But I understand. I will leave you with this, my lady. Partharia has remained silent for the last eight years. It is not a nation that its Emperor controls directly, but one where its Princes have much autonomy. They raid as they will. Smelling weakness, they may opt for a push. If they do, Galenthia might be the first, but will not be the last. Please keep that in consideration. I will share more as I gain it."

Mercy nods and ponders things further. 'I'll talk with one of my commodores on the matter of the south, he might not like leaving us to deal wit hthease new commers, but… me might have more insight to the parthians than I do." She says as she looks to thomas. "It's not a no My lord, just, everyone has problems, and my first duty is to the crown and it's people. But I'll do what I can, I've not said no to galenthia, and I don't plan on doing so."

"This was meant to be an initial engagement, in any case. As I am asking Aequor, it will likely have to be talked at in the diplomatic forums. But for now, this might be a start. Keep us appraised, I ask you please." Thomas finishes his cup of wine and lowers it. "I appreciate the honesty."

Mercy smiles and turns to face him. "Of course, honestly is a good policy to have, I can send a letter to his majesty and see what he thinks on the matter, then I'll contact my allies. But for now I have to get ready for our first contest." She says with a smile and gives a small curtsie. "Stay and enjoy the pavillians and the sights, supper should be ready at sundown, the doorman will escort you to the back terrace when you arrive at the palace."

Thomas bows from the neck up. "I thank you then for that, my lady. It has been an honour and a pleasure. I fear that events may call me back home sooner rather than later, but I intend to enjoy tonight, at the least." He smiles.

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